PNP to provide security for Vhong's home

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) has assured the camp of Vhong Navarro that it will provide security at the TV host-actor's residence in Quezon City, his lawyer said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas at Camp Crame, Atty. Dennis Manalo said the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the PNP offered to provide security for Navarro after they expressed concerns about the threats the "It's Showtime" host has been receiving.

"Through the PNP, we have been advised that they will immediately provide police visibility in the residence of Mr. Vhong Navarro to assure that there will be no further threats or any kind of attack that can be inflicted upon him," Manalo said.

But the lawyer clarified that they only asked for police presence around Navarro's house, and not personal police escorts.

"We're just taking precautionary measures here at the moment," he said.

Manalo cited the alleged attempt of an unidentified man to enter Navarro's house last January 26 after the actor's interview with Boy Abunda over ABS-CBN's Buzz Ng Bayan.

Aside from this, Manalo said Navarro has been receiving anonymous text messages. "These text messages po contain threats and we have been advised that this matter should be referred to the bureau investigating the case to determine who are sending these."

Suspects' guns

Meanwhile, Manalo said they also sought the PNP's assistance in determining if the firearms of all the people involved in the mauling of Navarro on the evening of January 22 are licensed.

Navarro earlier said that a man pointed a gun at him inside the unit of model Deniece Cornejo in Forbeswood Heights in Taguig.

The lawyer said the PNP also assured them that it will look into the protocol of the Southern Police District (SPD), where the suspects filed a blotter against Navarro for allegedly attempting to rape Cornejo.

"They will see if there was any violation on the part of
the southern command police station with regard to the treatment and reporting of persons who have been involved in crimes."

Manalo said the PNP will also look into the measures taken by the private security agency in Forbeswood Heights, where the beaten and tied-up Navarro, escorted by six men and two women, easily walked past the guards and the condominium's main gate.

Cornejo, in her complaint-affidavit in the rape case she filed Wednesday against Navarro, claimed that the actor forced her to perform oral sex on him and tried to insert his penis in her vagina on January 22, the night the group of businessman Cedric Lee allegedly came to her rescue.

Navarro denied attempting to rape Cornejo and claimed that he was a victim of extortion. He said he was blindfolded and tied up before being attacked by at least six men including Lee.

The actor has since filed six criminal charges against Lee, Cornejo and six others: serious physical injuries, grave threat, grave coercion, unlawful arrest, blackmail, and serious illegal detention, which is a non-bailable offense.